Picture Books

Stempel, Jennifer. Con hilo y aguja: Un cuento judío de Cuba. ISBN 9781962011082. SP

––––. With a Needle and Thread: A Jewish ­Folktale from Cuba. ISBN 9781962011068.
ea vol: illus. by Libi Axelrod. 32p. Kalaniot. Oct. 2025. Tr. $19.99.
K-GR 3 A young girl uses the magic of sewing to give to her community in this artful picture book. As a little girl, Romi learns to sew from her grandmother, the seamstress in their Jewish community in Cuba. As she grows, her dress turns into a beloved ­blanket for a baby, then a shawl for Romi’s friend Manuel. As the years pass, that shawl is made into a special chuppah for Romi and Manuel’s wedding, until finally Romi uses it one last time to create something for the entire community. Friendship and love within the people are expressed in soft, comforting illustrations and in the way the different characters help one another. The text shares the passage of time with readers, describing the changes happening in Romi’s life and the way she and her grandmother have used their sewing in magical and creative ways. An author’s note provides more information on Cuba’s Jewish community, with a glossary and recipe for ropa vieja. VERDICT Sharing a message of coming together as a community, as well as that of the love between grandmother and granddaughter, this picture book shows that something special can be created with some Cuban “lo que sea.” A solid addition to children’s picture book collections.